What Is Finger Picking or
    Finger Style Guitar?

First off, let me define what type of guitar playing it is that I'm talking about and that I'm going to be teaching you. It is known as "Finger picking" or "finger style" guitar. The article (or should I say the book) on these pages will be discussing RIGHT HAND SKILLS of guitar playing. (Assuming that you are right handed. If you're left handed you can learn these skills too, but obviously it will be with the other hand.) When I say "finger picking guitar," I am talking about using the individual fingers of your right hand to pluck or "pick" the different strings of the guitar. Finger picking (or fingerpicking - although my computer says that fingerpicking is misspelled) is also referred to as finger style guitar playing. I will be using these terms interchangeably because in my mind they mean one and the same thing.

To just use the word "pick" or "picking" can also refer to using a flat pick with some styles of guitar playing. For example with Blue Grass music when someone says "picking and grinning" they are not talking about finger picking, or finger style guitar playing like I'll be teaching you. Traditionally, Blue Grass is done with a flat pick. Generally speaking however, when used by me on these pages of this web site, I will be referring to finger picking guitar or finger style guitar playing when I say the word "pick" or "picking." This is what I mean and this is what I will be teaching you.

When I teach students, and they are just starting to learn finger picking, I encourage them to begin using Plastic Finger Picks right from the start. I personally believe that finger picking an acoustic guitar with plastic finger picks is the BEST (but not the easiest) way to learn. I will discuss the reasons for this on the other pages. So if you don't have plastic finger picks you should get them.  I'm not promoting any particular brand of pick.  That’s basically a matter of preference and doesn't really matter much, but you will need PLASTIC finger picks, rather then metal. Metal picks are designed to be used for Banjo and steel guitar.  Later on I will discuss the reasons for this too. If you can't find PLASTIC finger picks at your local music store, you can get them here on this web site. I personally use Dunlop picks.  Because those who have used this site in the past have requested it, I sell sets of Dunlop finger picks here.  I teach my students to use three finger picks and a thumb pick.  I explain why in  If you're just beginning to learn finger picking, I highly recommend that you get my Custom picks because as I'll explain, they are helpful for new students. You cannot get these "custom" picks anywhere else but only from this web site because I customize them myself.  Each do each individual pick myself personally using only hand tools.  I do this because I truly want to help new ones to be successful and I know from experience that these picks help beginners with that effort.

These pages will help you learn how to finger pick guitar and they are not intended for people just beginning to play. It is best to learn finger picking guitar by students who already have some "left hand skills." If guitar is your instrument of choice (as it is mine), and you have already committed yourself to it by learning some basic left hand skills (such as different chord progressions and perhaps some scales) then I can help you learn how to finger pick guitar. This will help your guitar playing to take on new dimensions. You can be sure it will enhance your guitar playing appeal tremendously! So please remember that I will be assuming that you already have some basic guitar skills. Please don't misunderstand me. This does not mean that you have to be an advanced guitarist to learn finger picking guitar.  Finger style guitar can be learned very early on.  If you can play even a few chords and you feel comfortable with your chord changes and you feel like it's time to start learning some right hand skills then this web site is a good place for you to start.  The purpose of this web site is to get you started with the basics but it's not intended to teach you everything you can learn about finger picking.  I believe that’s impossible! In fact I'm not even going to attempt to teach you everything that I know about finger picking either. However, what I am trying to do is to get you "hooked" on this beautiful art form of guitar playing.  In the end, I want to see you "get hooked" to the point that you will stay with style of playing for the rest of your guitar playing life.